Leaderboard

I have recently joined the kiting world and prior to my purchase, i had been statically honing my skills on a Radsail 1.8m. I have been looking at an unhappy mans face for ages fo i thought i would give this review a go. I ordered the kite after conducting my extensive research on this site. I am a 6foot 1 inch man at 17 stones. I would like to say its muscle but thats denial. Research I must say that, in my opinion, I can thoroughly recommend this forum site to obtain enough information to make an informed kite purchase. The previous reviews were very helpful for the beginner as well as the how to section of this site. I chose a day with limited wind to hone my skills. The Kite The kite is well presented, red and grey Beamer bag with the famous large zip. Although there isnt much space behind the zip, its a great place to store the Wind meter in an accessible position. The second pocket is more roomy which can store handles, wound lines and kite killers. The kite itself is Bright YELLOW, well stitched with reinforced air entry inlets, The kite stitching was flawless. Wow. After attaching the lines as per the instructions and remembering all the advice on here, i pulled on the handles. I must say that the instructions are very clear and although i have not yet progressed to proper powerkiting as i do not have a buggy or board, there were tips for that too. The kite killers are comfortable and as instructed by this site, they worked well when tested. The ground stake is well made with the HQ label on the outside of the sleeve. They think of everything. The flight The kite sailed to the zenith effortlessly and waited for the next instruction. The bright yellow kite had some presence in the sky let me tell you. At 6 mph, or enough wind to rustle the leaves on the tops of the trees, the power zone still produced enough pull to drag me. Despite my weight above, i was pulled forward by a couple of metres. The pull was not too aggressive though and i certainly did not land flat on my face like some people on You tube. I was able to spin, figure of eight, circle with i high degree of control from the kite. The kite did not luff or catch at the edge of the wind window and the brakes were very responsive as all the other reviews had mentioned. I was able to hover the kite once i got used to it and it was then when i realised that this was the reason for choosing a quad kite. Summary Well, can you tell that i love the kite yet. Its a great beginners kite with enough pull to give me the adrenaline rush for buggying later on. You really have lots of control although I would say that treating the kite with the utmost respect is in order. If you have any doubts about this kite, i recommend you see it in its full glory for yourself in the video that Jerry has produced. Actions really do speak louder than words.

Had flown 2 line kites for a year and wanted to get into power kites but was on a tight budget and heard about pansh kites and thought to give one a go. Seventy pounds including some for ground stake and kite killers was not bad. Delivery was quick and good emails from pansh but need an English person to make them more understandable (provide a good laugh though). As i did not have any other kites the kite looked good in the sitting room and well put together. The blue white flame pattern looked great in the house but out flying all you see is the white underside unfortunately Got the kite out for first time in wind that was probably in the upper for first time and varying in strength. Used the race kite how to guide for instructions and they were great, however I did not unwind by turning end over end and took 40 min to sort out lines. First launch was straight up through wind window and felt the pull of the kite and found scudding, was exilirating and a little scary as well but loved it. A lot has been said about line length but I found mine were equal length. I have used it for almost a year now and still love the kite. The only thing I have had to do was one line stretched after flying for a few times and once in strong winds (there was a thread once and it seemed someone had adjusted lines from every manufacturer) but help from this site and it was soon sorted and parapacks great without tangling. The handles some do not like but I have found them comfortable and had no problems with them. Got a buggy and this kite has been a brill engine and on the north east coast taken the lumpy winds in its stride much better then the buster I got at Christmas. The other day it was better than my friends 3.5 rage when we were both out with our buggies. The one thing is it has some lift and a sudden gust when turning can cause an obe, or exciting moment. If I had a gps I would have had about 30mph using the blaze.

After flying a 1.8m decathlon 2 line kite for a year or two, I decided that I wanted to get scared. After looking around online, I discovered that a really, really god kite shop was less that 10 minutes from where I live (Powerkiteshop, Oldbury) and so decided to take the plunge. I didn't want to spen big bucks but wanted something that would throw my 14 stone frame around a field if the mood took me and it appeared that the HQ Beamer range was the best kite for the job and was very, very good value. Anyway, cut a long story short I went, got some superb advice and tips, and walked away with a Beamer 3.6 in a big rucksack, with a big zip and a big smile. On the day of purchase the guys in the shops recomended that that I did not fly that day as the wind was too bloody strong. I took their advice. Until about 6.30pm! I couldn't help myself and so set off to find a patch of open ground. Having found a playing field I proceeded to set the kite up. Although a lot harder than a two liner, I set the whole thing up in about 5 minutes. Anyway. Not much wind, got it up, moved it around a bit and packed it away. On the way home I was cursing myself for not getting a 5 meter as I was convinced that this would have been better. The next afternoon, I had nothing on, the sun was out and although there was no wind (or so I thought) I decided to go to the local clent hills to have a second bash at the beamer. Setup this time was about one minute (having read the how to's on various sites) and I had the beast staked and sitting on it's back edge ready for action. I unhooked the handles, grabbed hold and WWHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOSHHHH! Despite there being no wind (;-))))), the thing took off like a rocket and nearly took my arms with it. Although, as I learnt within .001 of a second, this was a seriously powerful kite, my experience with the two liner stood me in good stead and I soon had it zigging and zagging all over the place with me following closely behind and at a rate of knots. Despite the lack of wind, once in the window, this kite is fan bloody tastic. Easy to control, powerful beyond belief and mellow beyond words. I was a very happy man. Sun out, sky blue, peace and quiet and a ferrari on strings in front of me. An hour later, aching, shaking and sore, I (para)packed the monster away and staggered to the car. So what had I learnt? 1) Forget 2 line kites ! 2) Take advice. 3) Size isn't important :-)) 4) Be carefull. This is a serious kite in light winds and will probably be frightening in stronger winds (read frightening as wiicckkkkked !!!). It threw all 14 stone of me around like a rag doll. 5) Stake the kite out and sit it upright on its back edge ready for action. Because with these kites you can. 6) Learn how to use the brakes and land the kite backwards on it's bum then leave it there until you want to go again. 7) The 3.6 Beamer is good 😎 The 3.6 Beamer is WIIIICCKKKKKKKEEEDDDDDDDDDDDDD. Although I have absolutely no experience of any other kite, for someone like myself with no experience of proper kites but with the need to feel the fear as a beginner, the beamer is an absolute cracker. More money may equal more performance etc etc but it will take me a long time to build up the stamina, courage and strength to move on up. All in all a fantastically eye opening serious gear change of a kite and good, good value. If you want to be able to pick things up without bending, get an arm stretching power kite :-)))))))))))))) By : devs

I've been flying power kites for a couple of years now, having started with the beginners favourite, 3.6m Beamer. I always wanted to board, and after about 2 flights of the Beamer set about building a quiver. Budget was always a big issue for me, as I was never going to justify spending £500 on a single kite. I've been through a lot of kites, most second hand or ex-demo, thinking they'd suit me. And while I've had some bargians I still hadn't settled on one that suited me fine until I went for a Peter Lynn Guerilla 13m. Now this was an awsome kite. Loads of lift (sometimes too much, got a bit scary in gusts), and really nice on the board. So I thought I'd found a kite that I could build a quiver on. I started looking for a 10m Guerilla, but just couldn't get one for sensible money, so when a 630 Arc come along for £110 I snapped it up, thinking it would sit well below the G13. But I discovered that because of the different AR's and sizing of the old arcs, it was actually more usable than G13 for the type of flying I do. (Mainly inland, and a fair bit of static flying). Becuase the kite is smaller and faster it can be worked easier to produce enough power to get going on the board when all the G13 wanted to do was stall. So I made the brave,(many would say foolish) desicion to sell the G13 and get a quiver of S-Arcs. A 460 soon followed, but it took me quite a while to find an 1120 and the 840. In all I had four kites in excellent condition for under £500. So what about flying them? Well just like the modern arcs, there is a nack to getting them in the air, but once up they stay up, unless you bail big time. The disadvantage of the 1st generation arcs is that most don't have inflation zips in the middle. (My 840 has been retro fitted with one). So to fill them with air you either point the trailing edge into the wind with the velcro seal open, or stand on one wing tip, holding the other one over your head so that the air inlet valves face into the wind, thus inflating the kite. This method only really works when there is a good wind however, so for the bigger kites I use a small airbed pump to get some air in. The 840 however is a doddle compared to the others because of the zip. And I am thinking about getting my others fitted with zips. Once up in the air they are just as, if not more stable than the Guerilla. They don't luff and collapse, and you can easily have a good 2hr session without dropping on down. I was a little dissapointed with the 1120 the first time i had that out, as I had always thought them to be a good low wind monster, but in 8-10 mph winds there still wasn't enough power at the edge to get me going on the board. My next session was with the 840 in 15-18mph and it was awesome. Plenty of pull, and as stable as ever. There's lift there too, although I still can't utilise it very well whilst moving on the board! My best session yet. The 630 and 460 are super quick, and turn on the spot with a 50cm bar. The 840 and 1120 also turn quick for their size. I fly them on a 65cm bar. I haven't had chance to board with all the kites yet, but after using the 840 in 18mph I reckon i'll be good upto 30mph with the 460. Although I very rarely fly in such winds. So overall, I rate these kits very highly. They may be old designs, very under rated, and not have the wind range and performance of the modern Arcs, but for less that the price of a single 10m Venom, you can get a whole quiver of S-Arcs to cover almost all the wind range you'll fly in. There are some unbelievable bargains to be had at the moment on these kites. Why have a second hand Buster or a new Pepper when you can have these super high performance kites? (And you can learn to kitesurf with them too). Value for money just can't be beaten. By : andrewjohn

First impression:- Good strong bag, nice touch with the key pocket. The kite is massive, especially as I had unpacked it in doors. Quality:- spot on, well constructed. The Velcro wing tips are a good idea for emptying out any sand taken at the beach and the small Velcro straps in the middle of the bottom edge are a must for holding the bridle lines in place for packing it away. Flying:- The first time with the 6.6m was interesting as there was hardly any wind. I was amazed that I could even get it off the ground, although this required running with it. But once over head it wanted to lift me. This seems quite a unique feature of the 6.6m. With a canopy so large it can easily support your weight, thus giving the potential for plenty of hang time once airborne. Problem:- I wonder if the bridle lines are not set right on the one I've got because the wing tips keep folding in and wrapping around the lines. The other noticeable problem is the two horizontal creases across the kite. It looks like it's not fully inflated. Under full power, or there about, it will fly over head and beyond until its behind you and then on its way to earth. WARNING:- I flew it in strong wind using only the handles. With a second person holding me down, the pressure on my hands and arms is too much. Time to let go! Kite Killers are a must. After re-launch, and over powered, the sky's the limit. Once air borne and still rising panic can set in. DON'T let go. At 20' high, that kind of fall could be fatal. Remember this is a massive kite with massive jump capability. Unpacking / packing away:- I feel that this is a very important part of kiting, a little extra time spent packing away will give you more flying time the next time you get it out. With a kite this big it needs to be folded neatly to get in the bag to start with. I always start by getting the bridle lines together as pairs and placed on top of the kite, i.e. the left lines neatly gathered and placed over the left wing then drawn to the centre and secured under the Velcro strap, followed by the right hand set. By this time the kite would be fully deflated, so I then fold down the top edge about a foot just to give a moor uniformed shape before I start bringing in the wing tips. Each wing tip I bring right to the centre and thus covering all the bridle lines with only the leader lines showing. From here I just keep folding the ends to the middle. I leave the kite lines attached to the leader lines and pack these last, whether wound around the handles or the bar. Once stuffed into the bag its ready for a quick unpack the next time and because the lines are the last thing to packed then these are the first things out of the bag. I leave the kite in the bag until I have unwound the lines fully and stake them down, then just remove kite from bag, undo the Velcro straps holding the leader lines and have full confidence that there will be on issues with untangling lines. Overall:- This kite is a must for those who want big air with plenty of hang time to master jumps and tricks. By : Wozy

This is ozones 1.5m 2 line beginner / fun kite. I bought this kite basically to fill in time when the wind is mad and as a cool down kite after a hard session on the bigger kites, Oh yah and so the gril friend can have a go.... What you get is the kite, lines and strap handles all in a small stuff sack. The handles, lines and bridles are all colour coded red and black but the kite comes ready to fly any way. The lines come attached to the handles and the bridles, which are held in place by a small Velcro tab on the inside off one of the centre cells. I thought the was a bit odd as 4 line kites generally have the sort of tab on the trailing edge, any way the kite. Well its very well made, light weight, stiched bridles, which are very thin and I went for the black and red colour....the kite looks great and the over all package is of a very high standard....what you come to expect from ozone. The only fault I can fined is theirs no padding on the handle straps. Flying the imp dose not disappoint its great fun , fast and agile. After flying a 5m samurai and then flying the imp, its like trying to keep up with a possessed wasp. The wind range is quite good, starting to fly in about 8 mph but it really get going in 15 mph winds, when it zips around the wind window at a far rate, performing fast turns, spines and it makes a great noise, sort of like the two stroke RS 125 of kites. The most surprising thing about the the little imp is the pull, yes it has some. I hade the imp out flying in horrible gusty inland winds ranging from 10 to about 25 mph. First was, its surprising how well the kite handels these conditions and second is the scuds, at the 25mph mark this littel kite was pulling my 185kg for 2 meter scuds, truly a fun kite to own. The only down side is the handles, which I will be replacing for some padded ones,as my soft girlie hands where killing me after flying in the 25 mph winds. For a simple introduction into power kiting or if you are looking for some fun in the big winds with out scaring yourself senseless then the imp will not disappoint but then " ozone do make the best kites in the world" ( I think I have read that before somewhere By : MADB

I've had the Sting '06 now for around 3 months - this is the kite I've learned the basics of kiting on and I've also used it for high wind flying. The Sting '06 comes in a canvas shoulder bag with a drawstring and padded shoulder area. The bag feels extremely durable but has no real water proofing so it's probably a good idea to move the instructions booklet from the front pouch to the inside of the bag as my booklet and free stickers turned into mush from a sudden downpour (the front 'panel' pouch is pretty well hidden with velcro sealing - I actually thought they forgot to put the instructions and sticker pack with mine!). So, the bag is no nonsense, durable, fairly comfortable and absolutely practical. As well as the instructons, stickers and a handy limited repair voucher, the bag contents are the handles with kitekillers attached, lines on a winder and the actual kite. I find the handles to be great and very managable due to thier slightly compact size - excellent in reducing hand fatigue compared to other brands I've used. With colour coded neoprene grips for comfort; I've really enjoyed using them. The attached kite killers are also highly comfortable and fit snugly with velcro fastenings. The main lines are colour coded to assist identification and also help with tangles but I can honestly say that this has never been an issue in the 18 or so times I've flown the Sting '06 - the lines are so well coated and light that I've had no problems with twists, knots or tangled lines, the brake lines are of the same quality so 10 /10 for the handles, kite killers and lines. Now the kite itself. Build quality is excellent. The material is still totally crisp after the many flights I've had and the seams are stitched perfectly with reinforcement, ensuring durability. I went for the Petrol colour scheme and I find it a great contrast with a bright blue sky but can look a little drab in less favourable cloudy days due to it being mainly grey. However, thier is a good range of colour schemes which have been applied to most if not all of Flexifoil's new kites so I'm sure their will be something suitable for all tastes. Actual flight with the sting '06 has been such a great experience it has ensured that kiting is now one of my main persuits and has provided the hook into this great sport / pastime. How has it done this? Simple - every flight has been successful. For a beginner this is great news and ensures progression. I have found the Sting to be so stable in low/moderate wind flight that I learnt the control/brake mechanics easily. I can now control exactly where I want it to go. The kite holds it's shape so well with no luffing making it totally suited for a beginner ( I've flown the Sting in wind as low as 3-4 mph and it still performs well for the wind speed; although totally underpowered in low wind circumstances - it still flies - I think alot of kites this size would be unusable). That's not to say this kite should be dismissed by flyers with more experience - as a high wind kite ( my high wind flights were topping out at 25 to 27mph approx) this has been a total blast to use with blisteringly fast responses and such speed that it would have felt like I had a large Delta on the end of my lines if it was'nt for the pull; It has a decent amount of power, enough to get some quality scudding on, more than ample for it's size (I only fly static - but I'm sure the Sting would cater well for the boarder in high winds). Another important aspect of the Sting is that I felt totally in control of it(never had to use the kite killers), even with generous pull in high winds and super fast speed. This made the experience even more exciting as I was flinging it around in all sorts of ways with a lot of confidence expecting it to luff; taking it right to the edge of the wind window but it was just coming right back at me - handling every erratic instructions I gave it with lightning fast responses So, my conclusion is that this is a superb kite. Excellent for beginners to learn on and for the advanced flyer, an absolute blast of a high wind kite with rock solid performance. Absolutely reccommended. By : FireForEffect

Ok i've had this kite nearly a year now so about time that i did a review so here goes. This was my first power kite and as such didnt want to spend the big bucks on a blade untill i knew i liked the sport. That being said I was very happy with the kite when i first unpacked it. Build was good and i really like the line winding system, it allows me to have the kite up and in the air in mins. When i bought it the guy in the shop told me to wait for less windy day!!! As if that was going to happen!! It took about 15 mins to set eveything up(first time and all). I slowly pulled on the lines and it lifted off with ease. after a few mins getting to know the kite i started to get adventurous and quickly found the power zone!!! WOW It does not matter how many people tell you that power kites are powerful you do not really know wot they mean till you try one. All in all i was very happy with the first flight. My friend had so much fun that he went to buy one two days later. I love this kite. I has a lot of lift and can pick me up in the right winds( im 16 stone by the way) and is loads of fun to scud with. I have since flown my friends beamer2 3.6 which is good fun as well but more sutied to bugging i think. as it pulls more than the radsail but has nowhere near as much lift. But that being said i have used the radsail to buggy with and it worcks fine. It does tend to overfly when you try to parkit over head and does need a bit more wind than say the beamer3.6 but all in all this is a great kite for anyone to get into the sport, and to be honest i would not part with mine. It has given me a few scary moments but thats part of the fun. By : Itchy

Hi there, since a young boy I have always been fascinated with the power generated by a basic kite, only until recent after re discovering the thrill of kiting via my niece have my interest been re-vamped. Researching the possibilities via the net I decided to purchase a Buster PKD as this was strongly recommended as an all round general purpose kite for beginners to intermediate, which could be used as a traction/buggy/board. With this in mind I purchased the 3.0m squared (mid-range), being naïve my first attempt to fly the kite was inland, with a wind speed of approx 10 miles per hour, needless to stay my first flight lasted for a duration 30 seconds the kite spun 720 degrees within the power zone, thus dragging my 14 stone body across a freshly ploughed field until a friend caught the canvas of the kite. My second attempt was very successful on an open beach with a wind speed of approx 6 miles per hour, although it was not possible to takeoff /liftoff by walking backwards and yank the main lines was not possible, a friend had to shut the upwards before lift off was achieved. The kite was very responsive, basic maneuvers were able to be achieved with very little effort, although the bridging cable became restrictive with regards to arm movements. Liftoff can be achieved within winds speeds of 8 miles per hour and above by pulling on the main lines gradually, recently I have flown the kite within wind speed in excess of 16 miles per hour, with limited maneuverability in the edge of the power zone, if entering the power zone you can expect to be horizontal within seconds regardless of your body mass. Recently I have flow the PKD buster 3.0 and Bullet 3.0 (5m squ) with winds between 8 and 12 miles per hour, although Bullet was superior in power & lift to the buster, I found it to be extremely slow and limited in response, in doing so this made it easier achieve more complicated maneuvers, whereas the buster was agile, quick to respond and easy to position in comparison, I would strongly recommend a PKD Buster to any beginner wanting to start in the power kite world. Author : rugrat760

Hello, this my opinion on the PKD Buster 2 metre which is colour coded in red. I bought this kite in 2003 when i first started flying, this was recommended to me as a beginners kite. The first thing i noticed is that it came with everything so all i had to do is pull it out of the bag and it was ready to fly. The material is good quality, the stiching is good as far as i could tell. At the time i did not know if the handles were any good but since then i have had other kite and i love the handles on the PKD as the line off the handle for the brakes are adjustable in a locking system, which means you can adjust the brakes with the kite in the zenith. The other thing i really love about this kite is the adjustable power line on the bridle, there are several settings which means you can have more or less power depending on experience or weather. . When flying the kite i still can't get over how responsive it is, if you use the brakes to turn it will turn on a six pence. I've only ever used this kite for static flying, but having said that in 25mph winds it can drag you along. I've tried flying this kite on a bar, i found this did not work to well, wether it's me use to flying on handles or if it's the kite i don't know. In conclusion, ibought this kite 3 years ago for just over £100 and it's had a lot of use, it's never let me down and i've never got bored of it, so i think these kites are very well made, well priced and really good fun. Ideal for a beginner and intermidiate. Happy flying. By : grimpixie

The Unpacking Bit This kite had come from Skymonster.com after a lot of reading reviews etc on this site.This is the first 4 line kite I have bought having been using a Proteam 8 for about a year. As soon as it came it was laid out in the lounge just to see what was in the bag. Quite a nifty red and black rucksack with nice zips, mesh side pockets and pocket in the top. All stitching looks very good and well finished off. Included were the normal handles ( with kite killers attached but more about that later ! ) the lines on a plastic spool , black webbing to secure kite, instruction book, sticker ( on flask ! ) and a key ring ( the cat liked that ) The kite bit The kite looks well made with good stitching and crisp art work. Many mention Ozone quality and indeed it feels that way. All the points to attach the lines on the kite are numbered and coloured so there is no confusion when attaching everything. The lines are also marked in the same way so you cannot connect up the wrong way. So all in all tops marks for the kite, I can't fault the quality or attention to detail. The Instruction Book Bit I was not quite so impressed here, plenty of colour pics but some of the instructions were rather vague and left to try and sus out what they were saying... Its not bad but they could have done better I think ...Good job that the racekite.com resource is so good. kite killers bit These came attached to the ground stake loops on the bottom of the handles and I could recall gain on this site the advice in the very good "how to" bit. I asked members what they thought and have since moved the killers down the brake line a bit which seems much better. The first flight... I chose quite a good day with lightish winds ( which is best for a 4 line newb like me ) and off I go up to the park, started to set things up and its all going very well until just as I'm about to get to the good bit ,dog walkers show up so its down tools until they clear off. Up she goes and parks above my head just as it says on the box. It so different to the Flexi 8 which is fast and furious, the Sammi is slow and sedate , however a few gusts of wind and wow, its like being attached a dog who has not been out for a week. I can see that in higher winds etc it will be very good. Conclusion A very well made kite that will last for a good while and once you decide to try out buggies and all that caper it will come into its own. I will update once I have had a few goes in different conditions. My thanks to anyone on the forum who has given me advice, it makes all the difference. 😉 I kept with a smaller size kite to start with and thsi gives me a good excuse to buy another next year heh heh By : dredgehead

This is my review of my Radsail Pro 2006 6m kite. I'm writing this not only as a review of the kite but also the observations I have made in the transition from my Beamer2 3.6 metre kite up to this mid aspect monster! This is to aid other people in the upgrade process. Background I'll review the VFM for this kite based on the cost of a new one, but I bought my example off the dreaded Ebay. I paid less than £100 for this kite, which came with Flexifoil handles & Kite Killers. The Kite is the 2006 version and is still crispy. I know these kites take a lot of 'flying in', and I think the previous owner did this for me as the kite flies very sweetly. This has actually taken a lot of the pain of buying this kite new as I have not got to fly it in, or buy decent handles etc. My only worries were the kite came to me quite dirty (dirtier than my year old Beamer), but this has disappered a bit as the wind has blown the dust off. Secondly and more worryingly, I found a 4 inch rip in the back skin of the kite which I did not notice when I inspected the kite (it was a pick-up only auction). The rip was easily repaired with flexifoil clear tape, and considering I flew the quite about 4 hours without noticing it I don't think it is serious. I'll be keeping an eye on it though... The Kite OK so I did the respectful thing and unpacked it in my flat as soon as I got home. This kite is HUGE compared to the Beamer. The colours (red white and black) and the general design are very imposing. The bridals are in luminous colours and somehow look less complicated than the ones on the Beamer. The bag, as always on budget kites is cheap and crap, but frankly this doesn't matter at all to me. It works. The kite came with it's original handles and the aforementioned Flexifoil items. We all know how good Flexifoil control gear is and they are very comfortable with good padding and nice and thick. Nuff said really. The Radsail ones looked EXACTLY the same as my Beamer ones to be honest, I would say they are the same items. The end winders probably work well but I've never used them, I always parapack. The lines are acceptable but are already showing signs of wear. They are the original items but they don't stretch and feel solid. The vendor had lost the manual and sticker etc so I didn't get these, but he gave me the CD and that's quite good. I've watched it once through, and has not taught me anything new. The package I personally got was outstanding because of the FF merchandise, and the handles have made a massive difference to my flying experience. I think considering that these kites are circa £200 new and don't come with a ground stake, I'm not entirely sure the new package is very brilliant, but that's nitpicking. Flying, first impressions Even in light winds there is a sense of trepidation when you get this out. It looks pretty big to my eyes. Anyway, grab the handles give it a tug and WHOOSH up it goes. The power in the wind window is huge, this is a serious kite. It absolutely domintes the window and everything about it, the shape, colour and size is intimidating. I've had a quick fly on a 6m Samurai and was expecting an absolute Barge, but this kite is fast, smooth and turns on a six pence. It is appreciably slower than the beamer but much quicker than I was expecting. The kite luffs a lot less than the Beamer and when it does it does not Bang open in the power zone in the same way. It has very smooth power delivery, it's not snatchy and the kite lets you know when the serious power is coming. The best thing is the turning. I fly with pretty tight brakes and the kite loves to brake steer. I would say that by watching the wing tip you can see it spin on the tip, but it can actually spin around the flying lines, thats how tight it can turn. It's an absolute joy to fly statically. Flying, light wind Ok this is the real test for any kite larger than 5m, and the main reason why I bought it, more power in summer! The thing you have to concentrate on is keeping the kite flying forwrd. It will just fall out of the sky if you let it stop moving, it needs the momentum of the wind over the wing. In fact it's in these winds that the main drawback of the kite comes to the fore. The kite material is very heavy. You can feel the weight on the lines. having said that I have had it flying (and pulling and lifting) in a gnats fart of wind as long as you can keep it moving. Another thing is this kite likes to crab. It can fly sideways if you fly it to the edge of the window and then don't concentrate on getting the forward momentum agin. It will fall back into the window sideways and sit there until you tip it on its wingtip and get it moving. Flying, medium wind This is the ideal windspeed I found, obviously. The kite has power but it's controllable as long as you have reasonably strong. I find the lift very predictable, you can feel when it's coming and when it does it's considerable. It also has a decent amount of float, meaning that this kite is very nice to jump with, although you don't find yourself in the air as much as with say a blade 4.9. The pull is huge and any sort of foray into the power and you're off downwind at a rate of knots. I found that the kite is tolerent of gusty winds, although it doesn't like them much all the same. It sits at the edge obediently and doesn't luff anywhere as much as the Beamer I also have. My other half prefers to fly this as even though it's a far more physical fly it is actually much easier to fly. It turns well, not snatchy, doesn't luff and is not too slow. Flying, Heavy wind Never taken it out in anything over 20mph. I have the Beamer for this. I like an adrenalin rush but I doubt I could land it in this wind. I also like my limbs and skin and minor stuff like that and I don't bounce. So it stays in the bag. One for the Brave(er than me). Boarding. OK now we're talking. THIS KITE IS AWESOME ON A LANDBOARD. It has lift once you get it moving. It get's you going seriously fast. I think the key is the lift. You can really lean back on this because of the large canopy above you. Keep the kite high and you can go where you want, the upwind ability is incredible. In anything over a knats fart you can park the kite very nicely and it yanks you upwind brilliantly. Have I mentioned the speed? I think the only problem is that if you let the kite kite get low and you don't brake turn it is very easy to dump the kite on the ground due to it's size. Conclusion. You may have guessed that I'm finiding it hard to fault this kite. Remember that I got mine at an incredible price for this kite (even if slightly used) so I'm still buzzing off the back of the bargain I suppose. I also wanted something that I can fly in very little wind, but not kill me (Blade). It ticks all the right boxes for me I suppose. Some may want even more lift, buy a Blade or Riot. THis is a great half-way house for me until I get a Blade myself. Some might want more speed, buy a race kite. Some may may want a high-end brand, buy a Flexi or Ozone or similar. The kite looks great, is easy to fly and has loads of power. It lacks in build quality, some stitches arn't straight and the handles are cheap and nasty, like a Beamer's. They are the main bad points. It handles brilliantly and is a Blast on my Landboard. It's easy to get it up (stop sniggering at the back). It does everything I want it to, and the other half likes my new muscle bound arms! By : panthro

ok where to begin? well i guess im talking to three main types of people here excluding of course those sadoes that read every review while they wait for their microwave meal to ping. anyway the three would be: the experienced flyer that is looking for a high wind kite without breaking the bank the small or light weight flyer looking for a traction engine and the complete beginer looking for the first kite and aiming small for saftey. ok to break tradition im going to give you a quick summary at the top of this review instead of the end. i mean why put the summary at the end, youve just herd the whole story surley the summery should be at the start for those impatient people that cant be arsed to read the whole text, ok if you cant be arsed to read through to the end then here it is experienced fliers if its high wind thrills you seek at low cost and your smallest kite is 4m then buy one of these but dont use the lines it comes with. use lines from a larger kite becouse these cotten like lines aint up to much. if your smallest kite is around 6m then buy a 4m dont wast your time here. if you are small or skinny then blow me this is the kite for you because in a good wind this thing can pull my 16.5 stone fat arse along the beach at break neck speed so your meek behind will storm a hundred minutes faster than it would take you to say waldorf salad if you are a small or young beginner then you are in the right area but please seek advice to your weight and sise and get some instruction before you buy but yes this kite will suit you. however if you are a big bloke looking to get into kiting buy a bigger kite and take it out in light wind because after a few flights this thing will bore you. so having baught one which of the above am i ...well none actually i am the experienced flyer that is trying to get his missus involved in the sport so she wont begrudge the time i spend at the beach and so, wasted 90 quid on a kite i will never need and that she will only fly to keep me happy. still cheaper than a month at relate i suppose . so here it is the 2.4 radsail package actually very impressive kite lines, winders, stickers, info, a dvd, handles, and on a sturdy bag, much better than the old pre 2005 bags. i was very happy with it and suprised at the sise for a 2.5 i kind of wished it was mine. setup peice or cake. however the kite needs no adjustment a quick larks head and you are off. within minutes you will be flying this kite round the window and shouting over to your wife "look honey look how much fun it is" while she sunbathes. handling could your wife handle this kite? well yes if she could be arsed she could, and if she cant you can get your 13 year old sun to fly it and pretend you bought it for him instead scoring loads of dad points. i personally found it to fly very smooth and stable and when the wind picks up boy can it pull, just be careful of the lines it comes with they are crap. seriously this is a nice little kite and it will suprise you as to its power without ever becoming uncontrolable the more i tried to convince my wife it was fun the more i found it was conclusion i love it, its cheap but very useable a must for any kite bag and a good introduction to the sport though not an all rounder if you are buying one kite buy a bigger one unbelieveable value for money very sturdy, will last for ever. By : DNash

What can you say about the Beamer II 3.6 that has not already been said in all the other reviews? This was the first 4 line kite I purchased about a year ago and I still use this as a 'High wind' kite. I've certainly moved on in terms of kite size and even experimenting with depower but when I get this kite out of the bag it always gives me a feeling of faithfullness that it is never going to let me down. I can't tell you why I picked the Beamer over similar priced entry level kites just instinct I guess but the thing I like about the Beamers is that everything it does is based on simplicity. Starting with the contact you have with the kite i.e. the handles simple but strong and obviously effective ... OK so they might give you a few blisters but nothing major. The lines are pre stretched so you don't have to worry about line lengths and the chosen length of line seems to suit the kite perfectly, the bridle again simple but effective - even the worst bridle tangle I have had has only taken me 10 minutes to figure out. The flying bit of the kite isn't the prettiest to look at and they always look like they have too much brake on but again its functional and the graphics are OK I guess. How does it fly? Hardly any lift, fairly predictable around the wind window, not the most stable on gusty days - but what do you expect - a good board engine (if you don't want to jump) that does require a bit of work to keep it moving. The best thing I can say about this kite is that its the first one I reach for when I am teaching someone new to powerkiting you get everything you need in the bag (ground stake, skinny little kite killers (that work) etc etc all in a little back pack that Dora the Explorer wouldn't feel out of place with. The reaction of begginers to the first flight with power (and boy can it pull sometimes) seeing someone being able to reverse launch and brake turn figure 8's within 30-40 minutes of picking it up are an indication of how easy this kite is too fly. Funniest moment with the Beamer II - A freezing cold day at Greatstone beach, a big lake of water in the middle of the beach..... 30..ish mph winds. My friend who normally flies a 4M Crossfire and berates the power that a little Beamer II 3.6 generates face planting off his board and being dragged head first through the lake .......then chosing to release the kite killers, then the sight of him standing up and looking like the Swamp thing. By : daisy186

Trevone, Cornwall, 2003 For the last year or so we've been having fun with a basic £10 delta-wing stunt kite (one flies it, the other two become moving targets trying to avoid being hit by the kite). Probably not the most sensible thing to do, especially considering our ages - 32, 33 and 60, so don't try this at home kids! A few days of this and we're ready to move on - wind becomes too strong for our cheap kite and yet we see others with parafoils. Of course, casual interest leads to curiosity, which leads to greater interest and then ultimately desire - we need to get one for ourselves. A trip to Marazion sorts it out - we visit Lodey's place (www.lodeysails.com) and get hold of a HQ Symphony 1.8 softfoil. Nice bloke in shop tells me at my weight (15.5 stone) I'll get a reasonable pull, "especially in this wind". Give him £54.95, leave shop with the words ringing in my ears "you'll be wanting a bigger one soon". "I doubt it" I say to myself - how little I knew! HQ Symphony 1.8 Two lines, wrist loops, line winder, neat small orange storage bag + instructions = £54.95 = big smile! Get to Travone - nice gusty wind. Get the kite out and away we go. Definately a nice fast kite, eager to fly, quick to turn. Tests the reflexes extremely well and on a day of strong winds, pulls very well for what I now know is a smallish kite. Then disaster - leaning back whilst in the power zone one line snaps. I suddenly find myself sitting in damp sand with a watching wife who is bent over laughing. The sand is easy to get rid of but the pride is damaged... No matter, new knot, re-attach to kite with newly learnt larkshead knot and away we go again. SNAP. Stayed upright this time but getting a little frustrated. New knot, re-attach, re-launch....SNAP. Aaarggh! The fading light gives a good excuse to call it a day. Taking a step back in the comfort of our holiday bungalow, I realise the size of the kite alone isn't important, it's the relation to the strength of the wind. Taking that into consideration, the kite is fantastic for such a cheap, small package. The lines need to be stronger but that can be addressed at a later date. The willingness of the symphony to fly no matter how much wind there is (little or lots) makes up for the weak lines. After a few days of the wife, sister in law and mother in law (and, it's hard to admit, myself) smacking the kite into the beach a high speed has done very little to damage the kite. Okay so there's a small, 1/2 inch hole in the underside but it still flies brilliantly. What's more, there's a fantastic new whoosh-ing sound that's pretty satisfying. If you want a kite to take anywhere that doesn't take up a lot of room, always eager to fly no matter how little wind, and something just to have fun, then you can't go wrong with the HQ Symphony 1.8. If you want to jump, buggy, surf.... anything else but above then you'll need something bigger. For me..... just received a PKD Buster 3.0m...... Lodey bloke - you were right! By : Adrian G

* I just purchased a Radsail 2.4m as my first traction kite and ive gotta say im lovin it. I got it on ebay for £60 so im well chuffed! * My friend has got a flexifoil bullet kite which i have tried a few times and have found quite difficult to handle, assumably this is for a more advanced user. The radsail is much easier. Ive only so far taken it out in light to moderate winds but have still managed to skud a few metres with it, so am looking forward to the wind picking up a bit so i can test my basic skills out fully. * As for the construction of the kite, i have nothing to really compare it to as it is my first kite. However the fabric seems pretty good and is deffinatly strong enough to take the sand crashes that its had to endure due to my inexperience. The lines are as far, as i can tell, perfectly matched in length, although compared to other kites ive seen on the beach, they do seem to be pretty long. The handles are really comfy (aluminium, with nice foamy padded grips) and seem to be shaped nicely, making the brake lines easy to control for really smooth landings. * The kite comes in in a pretty smart back pack which is the same colours as the kite and includes; a radsail demo DVD (wowing me with the potential of these kites), the things to wrap the lines round (which i find a kinda long and labourious process), some vague instructions, a sticker and some prome leaflets. * The only drawbacks that i can see to this kite are firstly, the instructions are very vague which, along with the lines not being colour coded made my first set up quite a tough task. And secondly the things to wind the lines onto are pretty tricky and take quite a while to do. So my next job is to find out a way to wrap the lines round the handles. * All in all though i can say that i love the kite to bits, maybe because its really a great kite, or maybe because im an easily pleased novice who has never had a kite before so dont know what to look for, but one thing is for certain, this kite has got me hooked. I would be really be interested to hear some experienced kiters views of my review and any handy hints that they might be able to offer me. By : 2shy

Ok, so this isn't a new kite but I'd like to give a view of this kite, first as a secondhand buy, and second as to it's suitability for a beginner. I took up kiting about a month ago, spent a couple of weeks asking for advice from the members of this forum, then almost completely ignored them all (apart from the size of kite i chose), and bought a Blade 2, 3 meter off a guy on the flexiforum for £120 about average price for a kite that showed some signs of use, with new flexi handles and lines. My first experience of flying it (or it flying me) was in a horizontal hail storm. While all other kiters sheltered under their enormous de-powered monsters - yes it is probably kite envy - I was untangling my lines (white on a now white field) with blood streaming out of my nose from the sheer cold. I know I should've packed it away but in truth i had no idea how! Eventually someone took pity on me and showed me how to fly it then how to put it away. I went home aching, bloody and with a grin i couldn't remove. Over the next week I religiously "went up the hill" to battle the beast, and these are my views on it: To start with I was terrified of it. After a while i became respectful of it. Last weekend, in 18-nearly 30mph gusts i became terrified of it again. I honestly don't think you could ever feel totally in control of it; if you take off in anything less than about 10mph it veers to the left and any efforts to steer it straight steers it straight into the power zone. Anything over about 15mph and it goes straight up - and keeps going, quite alarming when your 17 stone! I think its main problem for a novice like myself is its unforgiving nature, take it too far across the window and it overflies, luffs then reinflates with vitriolic and spiteful joy right in the middle of the power zone; fly it to the top of the window and it sneaks behind you, luffs then reinflates etc. The fact is that over the last month I've come to think of the blade as an animate entity with a pronounced sense of humour, not outright malevolent but definitely with a cruel streak. There have been times when I wished I'd gone for the "soft" option of a Beamer or Pepper. There have been other times when I've been surprised at how much pull it has in virtually no wind at all. There have been yet other times when I've whooped with the sheer joy of having my arms nearly ripped out of their sockets (only prevented by the handles being ripped out of my screaming fingers- thank you kite killers). So is it a good secondhand buy? Well yes, of course: the build quality is superb and unless it's been driven by a complete idiot (check for blood stains) it's virtually bomb-proof. And finally, is it suitable for beginners? Hmm that's a more difficult question to answer. On the one hand, on paper definitely not. It's very frustrating, tricky to fly, and like a hornet's nest on a hot day, very quick to sting you all over. On the other hand, you didn't take up power kiting to stand and watch the pretty kite fluttering at the end of its string, did you? Even though it bites you, spanks you and generally abuses you, I guarantee you'll be coming back for more. If it wore black, studded leather and high-heeled thigh length boots, you'd probably even pay it! And just like the s&m analogy, make sure you have agreed a "safe" word for when it takes you too far, in fact try two - KITE KILLERS! By : mikeymustard

When i recieved the kite it came in its backpack and well packed, the back pack is spacious and is well thought off in terms of packing the kite it opens well and allows the kite to be "stuffed" back in without having to "factory"pack the thing again b-4 it fits in the bag, the bar fits well in it, and i found it easy use to "dump"the kite back in when being cold and not waist more time in the cold to fold it properly, ( i use this kite to snowkite in temps to -20+ and when cold i want to get to my car ASAP) just with zipping it up you need to be a bit carefull not to catch the kite or the bridle, however this is common sence i would think. further it comes with a little booklet and material samples, the safety not to unhook and various stickers,the booklet is mostly straight foreward however for a real 1st time kiter it might not be that clear on how to set the lines up going by the book only, this however is well taken care of by the labeling of the flying lines. what i will come back to. after taking the kite out its noticeble that the build quality comes from a manufacturer that produces paragliders what leaves no room for mistake. I can be short on this its a very well build kite, the canopy is light and the bridle looks very well and i have not seen any "kinks"in it yet. The bar comes pre set up with the lines already attached up to the points where to fix it to the kite. The flying lines are color coded and are numbered to match the points on the kite where to attach and are very straight foreward, cant go wrong here. Further the bar is kept nice and simple what makes it easy in use, no things hanging and dangling off it. The safety systems are kept easy there is the primairy relase on the front lines of the kite, what is easy reachable and easy in use, this releases the front lines of the kite instantly and the kite will powerless fall to the ground, i have one question with this system what is; after how many twists in the front lines due to looping and rotations will this have to much friction and not properly work>? i have pulled this while i twisted the lines multiple times and have not seen a problem yet with this however i would say after to many twists you migh think of untwisting these. Secondly there is the release on the chickenloop that will break away the kite completely from the rider, this is a simple and straight foreward pin loop system, i did expect a newer system on this there it well known that these systems under high pull of the kite need a high pull to release the kite, on tests of inflatable kites there are pressures measured up to 60KG to pull this release, and we see more and more manufacturers moving to diffrent systems, however do not forget we have the extra primary release on the front lines, what takes minimum efford to release. The bar itself lays pleasant in hand and the depower runs very smootly threw the middle of the bar , and after looping or a rotation the bar easily spins to unwind the back lines, the only thing the Frenzy does not come with is a leash for either wrist or the harness. however there is a attachment point for this on the hand brake would the rider prefer this. So this all looks quite nice and all exited to take the kite out... Flying the kite; After taking the kite out and laying it out on the snow its very easy to distinct the kite''s front and back lines, a check if the pullys are clear is easily done there the bridle is quite staight foreward to the eye. After setting the kite up what was very easy and straight foreward due to the colored lines and the numbering, its time to fly, there the 10 m is not the biggest & do not find it necesairy to fill the kite up a bit prior to lanching, just strap in depower, bar away and walk back and the kite takes off, in stronger winds expect some pul and have a nice skid till the kite reaches zenith. I have taken the kite out in most conditions now, from the bottom of the range to the top end, or where i got just totally overpowered, the kite is very stable. and flys very well threw the window, the kite flies very smoothly, with no sudden increase of power anywhere, its very stable and easy to "park" anywhere in the window, the pressure on the bar is nice and low , so its easy to keep going without muscle ackes 2 day's after. Also in gusy conditions the kite behaves very well, it depowers very well and the kite stays put where you parkt, it , it does not shoot foreward into the window, this is prob due to the aspect ratio not being to high. As said the depower works very well and the kites flying range is quite big to this. Also i have taken the kite out in low winds, even then the kite generates enough pull to keep going, depending what you ride, you can ride this kite very early, on a mountenboard if think you can take it out very early, i been out ones with 8 knots on the snowboard with semi powder conditions, for powder this is seriously low, as im 85 kilo's however with the kite totally powed up and sinusing hard i managed to get going, did loose some height of course, but still 🙂 only with the kite totally powered up, it fly's mostly on it''s front lines, hence the backlines are quite long and you need quite a lot of movement from the bar to steer the kite, what means the kite responce is slow, and you really need to anticipate on the kites movement, and steer back in time or the kite will "overfly" however like said the wind was really low for what i was trying to pull... one other little point is that you will need t keep a look at the kite when parking it in zenith its not so stable that you can let the bar go totally, it will need a bit of rider input.. however i might now be looking for some negative point but with these frenzy's its zo bloody hard to find 🙂 Also for its size i find the handling lovely the kite in its normal wind range fly''s very responsive and steers faster then i expected from a foil. Jumping, well what can i say , its very obvious that these are made by a paraglider company, what a float and how smoothly this thing put you back down. it takes minimum efford to jump with these, just steer back and off you are, for a pure beginner the kite might be to lofty now and then there when you steer the kite back a bit to hard to change direction , you are offfff.. how nice to do rotations do... , and anything you like, with some speed just steer the kite to zenith jank the bar down, jump up a bit and make some nice floaty rotation or what ever. Handing the kite to my girlfriend, who is just getting into the snowkiting, and kiting at all. she in low winds sinuses the kite up to high and made litlle jumps everytime, indeed with some nice faceplants due to this.. so jumping with this thing is so easy.. even my 5 powerd up gives nice floaty jumps no problems. I use the kite mostly for snowkiting on a snowboard now, and going upwind i find is very easy to do, it pulls nicely upwind not one problem, on icey conditions, and with gusts the kite depowers very well and still manage to hold edge and go upwind.it has no sudden suprise and is very smooth, i just fell in love with this kite , and im sure any other person will as well, why >?? cos its so easy to fly it and so predictable and it does anything you like, this kite realy makes you look good. The only down point i think is the handbrake, do not expect the kite to stall and depower instantly, as i did. it takes a lot of power to pull this , and a very good couple of seconds to ge the kite down and it still generates a very fair amount of pull, is some situations i really thought it was never comming down, and those seconds can take horribly long when strapped into a board & being dragged. however the primary release functions well , and this is easy to reload and get going again. ( there i found something that could be improved.. )) well whats left properly plenty, however i must stop somewhere. just try it.. Author : niels74

Well what can I say.............Well quite a lot actually. I bought this kite second hand off a great guy and the kite and bag was near enough brand new. I paid £362 kite only which is a silly price for such a fantastic piece of kit. My first impressions where thank god the bag is as nice as my Guerilla. There were a couple of differences, better pockets and a nice hole for the spars plus a much nicer inner bag but the downside was that unlike my G2 the whole kite with spars fitted didnt fit in the outer bag. The spars dont seem as strong as the G2 either but we will see how they go. The kite quality looks great just like my G2 and the enhancements are small but brilliant. - Launch assist, so simply but anyone who has owned a PL kite will tell you its annoying when the kite is flapping and the lines go underneath so you have to go back to the kite and try again. All they have done is stick a little bit of velcro on each tip where you secure the lines, brilliant. When you walk back, the tension pulls the lines out of the velcro and up she goes, simple. - Inflation zips, again simply but how much better it is. My G2 has a zip in the middle of which your supposed to be able to walk away whilst it inflates itself, not the case because as soon as it gets slighty inflated it closes the hole hence you have to stand holding the hole open. The Venom has a zip on each tip which means where you put the sand to weigh it down that also keeps the kite from closing the hole hence setup your bar, come back and kite inflated. Plus because the holes are on the leading edge it makes a more efficient job of filling the kite. - In kite power adjuster, Im not sold on this one yet. It does change the kite a bit but i havent noticed that much benefit at the moment, maybe gimmick maybe me?? - Smaller cells, I can not tell you the difference this makes. The kite has a much better feel though the bar. It seems really solid and so far hasnt folded like a sweet wrapper which my g2 does occasionally. I think this is also responsible for the difference in turn speed which is far superior than the G2 to the point it feels like a different kite but in a good way, no great way. As i bought the kite only i can not comment on any differences re the bar and lines. What I can say is I have used the Venom on my PL bar and also a nice Caution bar and though the Caution worked ok it didnt have anywhere near the depower range of the PL one so I would recommend a PL bar unless someone knows of other bars with a similar depower range as the peter lynns? I love arcs. I have never crashed my G2 15m but the second day with my Venom i crashed it into the ground quite hard due to the wind turning it inside out and inverting my control. No damage at all, if that was my Caution LEI I would be replacing the leading edge baldder. One other thing that seems to have improved is the auto zenith though Im not sure if this was down to how i had the G2 setup. The Venom just sits above you whilst you eat your sandwich, have a cup of coffee and wonder what you were doing standing there, oh yeah flying a kite, where is it???LOL In summary I can be nothing but positive about this kite, its an ideal size and though the changes are small the improvements/benefits are big. Downside: I was fortunate and got my V for a great price. I still think that if i had little cash the £200 second hand price difference between a G2 and Venom probably isnt worth it. The Guerilla 2 is a great kite with a couple of annoying tendancies but for over £200 cheaper than a second hand Venom it would be my choice for value for money. All that said if you have the cash its a Venom every time. Nice one Peter Lynn, with these kites the only competition out there is bows and I still think a Venom would hold its ground...... Go get one. (I liked them that much I bought 2!!!) By : Ramsey

This kite is an ideal starter kite to those who would like to try 4 line power kiting. It took me weeks to decide which kite to buy as the choice of kites on the market is endless. I got a 3.0m buster for myself and a 2.0m for my girlfriend as she introduced me to this mad sport. I got both busters from powerkite shop in Oldbury. Brilliant advice and a brilliant deal (thanks guys) Both Busters arrived in a white bag that looks a bit like the pump bags you used to have in the infant school! For the price though I cant complain. For the maiden flight there was hardly any wind, got the lines out then pulled the big blue foil out of the bag, got the handles and gave them a tug...... Woooshhh ! The thing took me by suprise for a moment as it soared upwards with out any effort. I am now hooked ! Constantly checking wind reports and finding new places to fly. I am 12.5 stone and my 3.0 Buster gives my body a good workout in a good breeze. It will drag you on your arse, or face down on your nose to act like a plough if your not careful. Scudding is no problem and even getting some air is possible. The 2.0 is brill too, its faster than the 3.0 which is good sport. My girlfriend being vertically challenged gets huge smile on her face flying the 2.0. Even that drops her on her arse from time to time. PKD Busters........ Wicked fun ! If your new to power kiting you cant go wrong with one of these. Easy to self launch, easy to fly, easy to land and all it takes is a couple of minutes to get the kite out of the bag and your airbourne. Some flyers say the lines are a bit naff. I say you get what you pay for, for the Buster, you get VFM (value for money) Ive had no trouble with the lines, neither has my girlfriend and we fly at all the time, but to be honest we will change them for better 25m lines (Busters come with 20m lines). Well I hope this review helps you in your quest for a new kite. Happy kiting, be carefull out there 🙂 By : Mutts and Munch

My kiting story starts when I visited the Rougham airfiel international kite festival a few years ago. I had wanted to get myself a power kite for a long time, but didn't really know what to expect from one. Suffolk kite club were really helpful and I tried out a number of kite, but eventually bought a beamer I 2.5m. I eventually learned how to stop it crashing, and found it was a great kite. In reasonable winds scudding and small jumps were easy and fun, but there wasn't often too much power to handle. I have had the 2.5 for almost 2 years now and it hasn't let me down yet (though the bag it came in did disintegrate after a while). It is a great small kite and can be used for buggying in strong winds, but if you are looking to buggy or board then seriously, it just doesn't generate enough power. One thing anyone with a power kite should always beware of, however, is unexpected surprises. I was flying at a kite festival in October of that year in a wind gusting to gale force. I made a mistake and was simply wrenched off my feet and put down 20m down the field. Remember, even a small kite can generate BIG power. The beamer 2.5 doesn't have a great deal of lift or power normally, but it makes a good trick kite and a great learning kite. The next year, I decided I wanted a beamer II 5m. Compared to the 2.5 it was hugely more powerful - in medium strength winds it makes a great boarding kite. Whilst the beamers have a fairly narrow wind window they work extremely well inside it. They are predictable kites, which is very good in a strong wind as you can always tell where and when the power will come in. The 5m has plenty of toplift for it's size, but a near-constant pull on the arms means that it can tire you out quite quickly unless you use a harness in strong winds. I have always felt that the build quality on the beamers is good - 2 years of flying them has given me one broken bridle line and that was my fault, not the kite's. However, when you make a good quality kite for a relatively small amount of money, you have to compromise somewhere. In this case, the accessories. The handles and lines they come with are substandard and I would highly reccomend buying their flexifoil counterparts as well. The bags the beamer I's come with are very bad quality, but this has been improved for the beamer II. All in all, they are great kites to learn on and to fly, but you shouldn't expect quality from the add ons. This means you should be prepared to pay extra on top of the kite if you don't want stretched lines and blistered fingers (both of which happened to me). They are very easy kites to fly though, and extremely versatile. But if you are really serious about kiting, you are better off spending a little more money and going for something like a blade III. Updated Review Background: When HQ brought out the beamer, it was something of a revelation. This was one of the first kites that was really pitched to the true beginner – it was cheap to buy, reasonable quality, and it was low-lift and as such, much safer than alternatives on the market at the time. It was also easy to fly. All this added up the make the beamer an extremely successful kite. Here’s what I thought of mine. First flights: I had wanted to get into power kiting for some years when I went to the Rougham kite festival in 2004, with my heart set on buying a kite. After asking around, trying out a few and seeing what I could afford, I went for a 2.5m HQ beamer. There wasn’t much wind that day, but from the flying time I got in I could feel that it was going to be a good, no surprises kite to learn on. I flew it happily for the next few weeks (amid a mass of tangles). I faceplanted a few times but I quickly picked up the basics, and was on the whole very happy with the kite. General flying characteristics: This is a pleasant kite to fly. It moves fairly fast through the window and can be easily controlled and tightly turned with the brakes. It has very little lift, making it suitable for a beginner, and is fairly (though not so much as the later models) resistant to luffing. It is not the most stable kite ever made – if it overflies it will generally luff and re-inflate sharply (something that can take a beginner by surprise), but I tend to fly in very gusty inland conditions - the kite behaves better at the beach. It handles well near the ground, though it is not a kite that behaves well in gusty conditions. It doesn’t have as much power for its size as most kites, but again it is a beginners kite. Turning speed and maneuverability: Good. As would be expected of a small kite, it turns and moves quickly, but it can also be controlled fairly well using the brakes – though it can spin out under heavy braking and do something unexpected. Lift and jumping: This is, for its size, the least lifty kite I’ve ever flown. The highest I’ve ever been with this kite was 4ft in a 45-50mph gust. This makes it very good for learning to fly on. Light wind performance: Not particularly good. This kite needs a bit of wind to get off the ground. It’ll fly in 5-10mph if the wind is constant, but it really needs more wind than that to start being fun. On a board: This kite needs 25-30mph of wind for me to use it on a board, and I’m not exactly heavy (75kg or so). However once there is enough wind, it is a fairly good kite on a board. It won’t give you any nasty surprises, but it’s not that exciting either. Upwind ability: This is reasonable, though not up the standard of more expensive kites. You will need a considerable amount of wind if you want to get upwind on a board, though you don’t need so much if you’re going to be buggying. In a buggy: This is the kite I learned to buggy with, and while you won’t be breaking any speed records flying it, it’s fun to potter about with, and it’s extremely low lift makes it good for buggying, particularly when you’re learning. Construction: I haven’t had any problems with the construction on this kite, and it’s taken a considerable beating the 3 years or so I’ve been flying it. You can hammer it into the ground as much as you like, and it’ll just bounce back without damage and keep on flying. Accessories: I’m still flying this kite with the original lines and handles, though I don’t use the original kite killers, and I’ve since lost the sand stake it came with. I’ve never liked the HQ handles – they’re much too hard on your hands. They’re basically aluminium tubes covered with some sort of grippy black stuff – be prepared for blisters on your hands. The lines aren’t marvelous quality, but more than good enough for the uses this kite will be put to. The wooden line winder they come with is also nice and economically friendly. The original kite killers were dire – weak, badly designed, and uncomfortable to wear and use. If you buy this kite secondhand with the original accessories, buy some decent killers too. The bag looks good in black with plenty of pockets and pouches and with the HQ logo and the kite details stamped on it in white - but the construction is poor, and the bag is apt to tear at the seams after being used for a while. The instruction manual is good – it shows clearly how to set up and fly the kite, as well as providing tips and general flying information and guidelines. Appearance: Not visually stunning. The 2.5m has a white underside and a red upper side, which doesn’t really make it very interesting to look while flying. (It can also look pink when in the air – not necessarily a bad thing, I just don’t like pink). You could fiddle round putting your own graphics on it, but most people won’t really want to. Conclusion: When this came out, it was possibly the best beginner kite out there. The beamer is now in its third series, and has plenty of competition from the likes of the Ozone cult and Flexifoil rage. In all this, the beamer I has been rather forgotten, but it’s still a nice kite to fly, and a great, forgiving kite to learn and teach others on. They can be bought very cheaply second hand, and one would make a good introduction into the sport for just about any beginner who doesn’t want to spend too much, as well as a good high wind buggy or board kite. In short, don’t dismiss it just because it isn’t the latest model! Author : MatJ

Well, what can i say about this kite that hasnt already been said. At the end of the day anybody who buys a flexi kite knows what they are getting in terms of quality materials and packaging as always they are superb i cant really think of one area that has been neglected by the standard of these top end kites they really blow other manafacturers away in terms of quality but you pay for it heftily if buying new especially if you are going for anything over 4.0mtr bu that said you get what you pay for and anybody who owns one can verify this. In terms of performance this thing is awesome it is certainly for the experienced flyer and like any other size of blade will kick your ass if you dont pay it the respect its due the lift is truely amazing and it pulls like a train and regardless of your strength if you dont fasten in before using it the you will get about five minutes out of it before you arms fells like they arecoming out at the shoulder. i do find it sometimes difficult in lighter winds to get it to the zenith which could be tricky for smaller riders who would use it in lighter winds cos in anything over 15mph it has no problems soaring to the the top or turning for that matter. I did read a review that said that you are advised to only fly these on a bar well i have tried it on bar and on handles. I went thru a phase of just going out on the bar but i think that you are always gonnas struggle turning something this wide quickly enough on a bar especially if your buggying so my advice is go for the handles its more fun and you can still fasten in. To round up the blade 6.6 is an awesome bit of kit but not for the beginner so to all the brats out there who get everyhting they ask for pester daddy for something smaller or you will regret it badly. If your looking for a single kite then go for a smaller size but if you want a true power house to give you that big time air that you crave so much then get one of these just be carefull thats all By : fireflighter

This is a perfect way to master four line flying skills, and as you progress it becomes that essential high wind kite, with a build quality that stand everything you throw at it. Fight testing in winds from 8mph to 30+ you wil find a little kite with bags of fun potential. Just remember as the wind speed increases, it'll perform like its name, a bullet!!! The overall package is one of quality; High quality rip stop material, meshed vents and a two tone colour scheme. The stitched, light weight bridles means the kite itself will last, and means it'll fly in lower winds than you think. The handles are probably the best you find, with no fuss (to put on ) kite killers of equal workmanship, padded grips and leader line connection means non slip comfort. Even the 20m flying lines have stitched loops and colour coded for easy set up for beginners. All carried in a quality trademark flexifoil rucksack. In flight above 12+ mph it shoots across the sky, with a reasonable pull. All manner of stunts and tricks are possible, I can guarrantee you'll have fun pulling multiple spins until you're dizzy. In a buggy, its a great trainer, in winds of around 16+mph depending on your size. Its small size means you can bring this kite lower, and add a bit of brake and you are away. I've pulled kite tricks in the buggy as well as static flying which adds a fun element to bugging around. Be warned though, above a wind speed of 20 mph and it may catch you out, it'll spin on the lightest of movements, so practise first in lower wind speeds. At 30 mph it lifted me off the ground for 15 feet, so don't under estimate its power potential. This is a fun, all round blast and a kite to take along for stunt flying and high wind buggy fun. It will test your skill and reactions better than any computer game. Unfortunately Flexifoil seems to have stopped making them. But if you can still find one, buy it you won't regret it for a minte, I never have, honest. I've tried all the other sizes and this is the only one for me. By : Sturmovik

Packaging The kite comes in a big square bag with a shoulder strap and a small pocket. It also has gauze to ventilate the kite when damp. When you open the bag you’ll see a big square packet with a nylon strap around it, an Ozone sticker and an Ozone key ring. The kite When you open the kite first thing you will notice is the wingspan of the kite, at just over 6 meters this is one high aspect kite (5.08). Second thing you will notice is how little bridle this 7m beast has. The bridle wires are also super thin. The stitching and finish of the kite is up to if not above the usual Ozone standard. Flying First off all, this kite is not for the weak hearted, beginners or static flying. It is a race kite and so it needs to be flown on a harness in a (race)buggy. The kite has tremendous speed and power and is fairly well behaved for a race kite. Its still a bit of a handful, it will not stay at its zenith for very long, it has to be flown on break inputs, it will still punish you for mistakes other kites would forgive, and I it will turn itself into a bow tie at the wink of an eye. The speed is heavenly, just to give you an idea, I rode 45km/h in an 18km/h wind with it so far. There is little or no sideways pull and the kite reacts quickly and predictable. The wind range is about from just below 10 km/h to just above 20 km/h. (this is for me as an intermediate pilot of about 85kg and a big race buggy). Conclusion This is a kite for experienced pilots who want to go seriously fast in low winds. Author : sibster

Personaly I like Bullets, having got a few of the pre2005 variety. From personal experience the 05 Bullet does not like turbuleence/gusts especially offshore wind, even when the kite is parked above you. It has a tendency to collapse then inflate down in the window. Any variable wind tends to make it very twitchy. Makes you wonder what would happen if the last 2/3 cells were sealed would it be more stable. Smooth onshore wind is it's best environment. Construction is good and to the usual high quality. Colour scheme is fine although boring compared to the old style flo greens, reds, golds of the old range. Bridles all well stiched stiff so this helps avoid bridle fankles. In flight I find you concentrate more on this kite making sure it doesn't pull any unexpected surprises, however there is less tendency to pull sudden spins if you over control (compared toearlier Bullets). I get the feeling that increased stability in return for a small loss of manoeverability is no great shakes, though the kite is still less relaxing than other makes in similar sizes. Up wind performance is less pleasing than other types although cutting accross the wind performance is fine though not on a par with say a 3m Samurai or Rebble which I think a similar kites in this class. I have found a 3m Sammy will outclass the 3.5 Bullet on most days. Locking the kite in position whilst buggying is more troublesome compared to other types. Kite killers are the best I've seen (no changes there) although the bungee could do with being trimmed down when buggying so as not foul wheels. Lines are colour coded red/blue filight and grey for brake and more than up for the job. Overall not great but not bad. Out of 10 I'll give it a 7. By : Mooby

Wind range tested: 5-22mph Locations of Test: Inland/Coastal Kite Flyer Experience:5 years. Cost: £245.00 shop around for best deals though. Package: 3m Kite with compression strap, 180kg swl Ozone Lines, Handles with kite killers and strop. Instructions and Stickers etc. High quality rucksack (Berghaus style). Since purchasing this kite, there has never been a time I have not enjoyed flying it. Incredibly stable and responsive, a wide wind range (Static 4mph+) (Optimum Traction 12mph+), and build quality that reflects Ozone's paraglider pedigree. Static flying in low winds the kite can be flown as a stunt kite, loops, spins and square patterns easily are pulled off. In a buggy, I can really throw this kite around; in winds below 12 mph you need to work the kite to really get moving; above that I've out paced larger buget kites, mainly through its agility, and its wing design. You do feel a little lift, in higher wind speeds, but nothing will happen unless you actively fly to jump (very reassuring if your a buggy pilot who likes their wheels on the ground). It takes alot to collapse this kite, and it will propel you up wind, tested alongside the 3.5 Bullet, the Samurai out proformed for stabilty and traction in 14mph winds. Build quality of the kite is excellent with stitched bridles and coated high quality ozone ripstop reinforced at all stress points, handy velcro bridle holder when packing away; the most comfortable handles I've ever used ( though the kite killers are a bit of a fudge to put on.). Coated flying lines colour coded and numbered to allow fool proof line attachment. Overall an excellent package, quality throughout you could buy cheaper but would they last as long and be as stable. If you want cofident flying as your moving up in experience, put one of the range of Samurai in your bag!!! You will not regret it. Negative aspects those darn kite killers!!!!!! By : Sturmovik

The Libre Vampir 5.2m lives up to its gothic name, by being a powerful wing which is not for beginners!! The package contains basic handles, which have a tendancy cut into your fingers in higher wind speeds. Out of personal preference I fly mine on both Flexifoil and Ozone handles which work well, though I would recommend the longer handle type from Ozone. The flying lines are a basic white dyneema at 25m, ok for static flying but 20m lines improve turn rate when buggying. The kite itself, is fairly well constructed with reinforced vents and internal bracing. But lose thread ends can be seen on the stitched bridles, spoiling the overall finish. However these have remained strong and have have not come undone even after a reasonable amount of punishment. The graphic style is basic with white underside and coloured upper with black stripes at each wingtip. The whole lot is contained in a large white stuff sack, which is fine as how many kite rucksacks can you carry or fit in a 80 litre back pack. I have have flown the kite in wind conditions from 5mph to 12+mph in clean onshore winds. Lower winds require some careful flying to prevent stalling the inner wingtip (closest to ground) on turning, resulting in total collapse of the kite but persevere and you will gain traction even at wind speeds between 6-8mph with a fairly consistant pull. 8mph or above and this kite, power is certainly increased and high speed bugging is easily achieveable, though a harness is recommended, as it does tire you out pretty quickly static flying. In a buggy it'll drag you around regardless, I've had the whole buggy sliding side ways, up on two wheel and is great fun, but it'll catch out a beginner so be warned. The kite requires a lot of more input than a Samurai or something with a similar shape. The acceleration in a buggy means you'll cover ground very quickly, so lots of space is required to get used to it. Overall this is an intermediate kite with plenty of power and good build quality,which give anyone ready to progress or wants high speed fun plenty for their money. Also a good trainer kite for those wishing to take on the more demanding handling of a full racekite, later on. It's still entertaining me, but try it before you buy it you might want something with a little more stability and slighty less bite. Fangs for the memory ho, ho,ho. By : Sturmovik

After a summer introduction to two line kites for my seven year old son, Tom, I was after a little more to excite him. As a parent kiteing seems a great hobby for me and Tom. It maybe addictive, but it wont see him in rehab at fifteen or hopefully in youth prison. After looking at all the kites in Argos I decided I wanted to talk to someone in the know and was expecting to play about £50-£70 for a kite. Enter the Kite Shop at Fleetwood. Having moved into the Blackpool area recently we were told that the guys at Fleetwood were a good source of information and help. We went to the shop and chatted with the very freindly staff/owner. By the time we left we had two kites the Radsail 145 as Tom liked the look of the BIG kites he kept seeing and a BeBop as he wanted fast spinning tricks too. All this and we had change from forty pounds (which we have since blown on hot choclate from the cafe next door to the shop. Since owning these kites we have flown the Radsail 145 as often as possible So how do we find it... Tom loves this kite it flies in nearly no wind, this kite positively jumps into the air for Tom and handles beautifully though slower in light winds than he wants. It is very forgiving at seven years old Tom can be easily distracted and this kite can handle him looking away, after two months of being crashed into the wet sand it still looks new and is showing no wear. Tom can even launch it when the material is damp, though when wet the laws of physics prevail. It holds the air well though as I am heavy handed I do often fold it and then down it comes (more skills lacking I think not the kites). It folds into a totally naff plactic bag, but the bag is not flown so who cares. Being tiny it can (and does) stay in the car to be pulled out whenever we see a breeze. Ready set up from the bag its a no brainer for me and Tom too. So would I recommend the Radsail 145, Oh YES I definately do, as a kite that can be fun for the young learner I think it is magic! Tom loves it and I find it fun. For the future a four liner is planned but for now and then, for fun and a light breeze the Radsail 145 will remain in our bag or in the air forever. By : PhilG

I recently bought a 2nd hand Viper and had high expectations... As with my other Flexi's it is made well. 4-line and just enough bridles to look like its going to be trouble my Viper is luminous yellow and does some of what it says on the tin!! It does pull.It was always said to be the ultimate kite for buggying or boarding and it does do that.Also very easy to re-launch by yourself when your all alone on a buggy!!Manouverable too. BUT....it doesn't feel quite right.Prior to this i'd been flying a 7m Naish to whizz me up the beach on my buggy or board.Now that does the job nicely!! (Bit of a wotsit to self-launch but it can be done.)The viper tho has,i hate to admit,left me feeling a bit frustrated at times.Also it doesn't like getting wet. (the Naish doesn't care). Also it scoops up sand the minute you get it out of its bag.AND the bridles.......can they not invent 'non tangle lines'!!?? I have had some great times with it.On a good,but not too strong,day i have flown up and down and all over the beach zooming around in total control.On those days i love it.To date tho thy have been the minority.I can't quite place what i think the problem is.I am an experienced kiter of many,many years and have flown all sorts!! I have had the Viper out in a wide variety of wind conditions. To summarize...it's a tricky one.Nothing is gauranteed with it.Some days it's all lift,other days it folds the minute you try and bring it round.I'd say have a go and see what you think!! By : harveyco

A few thoughts on my beloved 13m G1. 1. The Bag Ok, the bags annoying, size wize, because, unlike the newer models they had not yet developed the collapsable spars, so it does come in a rather wide bag, which is well constructed, but the zips are proned to getting stuck, and put the kite at danger of being ripped on if you don't take care. Still, as they say, you don't fly the bag. 2. Build Quality Build quality is great. Very simplistic designs make them very durable and will put up with a good deal of battering. 3. Flying characteristics. Let me just make it clear, Guerillas, and most of the arcs i have had experience in flying (G1, G2, Venoms) are near useless in sub 10mph winds, even the huge ones like the 22m G2, they are not designed for this kind of wind... so don't expect them to be, have different kites ready for those days! And... on water, they are useless in sub 15mph, which i think i fair to say also applies to most of the arc range, to get cruising comfortably at least. Flying them in low winds is down right frustrating and you will want to throw the kite in the bin if this is all you get to fly in! When that 10mph mark is hit though, these kites kick into life... they REALLY kick into life. The G1 is a slow turner, but very controlable, predictable, safe, and produces some lovely lift. Its extremely easy to jump with these kites and they will almost always bring you down softly and slowly. I use a naish UDP bar, which isn't ideal and doesn't give me quite enough depower on the kite, so when the wind gets up a bit more, the kite starts going a bit mad and totally kicks my arse. Won't life you too much unless you ask it to but the horizontal traction becomes a tad uncontrollable without a long enough depower line, when the winds right though these kites are amazing. However... I would not purchase a MK1 Guerilla larger than the 13m size. Even the 13m is slow, especially when you compare it to the venoms super speedy turnability. I find it turns at a comfortable, controllable speed at 13m, the larger models though are too slow and won't give you much pop because of this and so revert primarily to traction engines. In Summary... I love this kite, and no matter what other kites i get, i will always keep my 13m G1, its a lovely bit of kit. At the prices you can get these kites for these days, i would advise anyone to get one to just have one, as you can pick them up around £200 which is SICK money for such a wonderful kite. By : domdino

I have previously provided a review of the Crossfire 5m (called Crossfire 5m) which outlines the pro's and con's of the kite so I will not concentrate on those issues here. This review deals with teh kite flying on a bar as it is often said that the kite is slow and quite tricky to handle due to the need to apply brakes. EQUIPMENT Crossfire 5m Ozone 4 line kite bar (review submitted) Dakine XT Seat Harness (review submitted) SETUP In a word, easy. Outside leader lines of the bar go to the power lines and the brake lines attach to the centre lines of the bar. I put the brakes on the final knot of the bridle and used full trim on the bar to make then tight. LAUNCH Again, easy. I was flying in 3.5mph wind so was not expecting a lot but the kite roase easily on the bar. Due to the lack of wind it required some movement on the way up but I did not find that the bar restricted the launch at all. FLIGHT Peopl may disagree with this point but I found that the kite was hardly any slower than when using handles. I agree that you did need to think ahead a little for turns, especially when it heading towards the ground, but this was due to me being new to flying with a bar. The steering was light and responsive and the kite seems to maintain its shape far easier. Maybe due to the fact that that the pressure was maintained evenly on each side of the kite. I did need to keep the kite moving but I put this down to the low wind. I would suggest that the feeling I got was when powered up the kite would sit nicely at the zenith. The wind was enough to allow me to hook into the harness and I found that the kite behaved well when the bar was released. The kite flew in the direction of travel without need to correction and was steady at the edge of the window. LANDING Pulling the centre lines the kite came down without a problem. Reverse launching I found to be easier with the bar than with handles. OVERALL I was pleased to note that the kite remained flyable with a standard bar as I was concerned that the bar would render the kite unusuable. I would recommend the bar to people with a crossfire, even the 5m, and feel that it does not take anything away from the kite at all. By : beamer3.6m

After about a 6 months using a super ten, I thought it was time for something bigger with more power, traction was definatly the way foward. I'll say now that I'm a student with only a part time job for funds, so money was certainly a major factor. This put me down the Beamer/Buster route, but looking round e-bay there were also some good deals on Radsails. Anyway, I finally decided on the 5.0 metre Beamer and managed to pick a MKI up for £130 new. The first time I took it out there wasn't much wind, (I now know this was a good thing!) I got the kite layed out, unwound and attached the lines exactly per the instructions and was ready to fly in about 5 minutes flat. This was definatly a good start. My brother helped me launch and the kite shot up which was impressive as I douted that there was even enough wind to fly the super 10. Despite the lack of wind I still had to fight against the pull of the kite when it was moving in the wind window, however I had to keep walking back to keep it in the air if it stopped. One thing i noticed is that the Beamer is very sluggish in turning, but then it is a big kite and I'm sure that once mastered, turning with the brake lines will change this. After about an hour the wind dropped compleatly and so did the kite. We packed up, (which is also as easy as they say it is in the instructions,) and waited for an even windier day. Thankfully we didn't have to wait long and in a couple of days we were out again. This time, branches were moving in the wind. The kite shot up easily and draged me with it. After applying the breaks a bit and regaining control at the edge of the window, I dipped it more into the middle and this time scudded with me in charge. However I did notice that what had seemed a distant tree line was now moving closer with alarming speed. I hit the breaks again but this didn't really work, and the tree line was now far too close for comfort. After a brief moment of panic I got the kite above my head, where i still had to struggle to hold onto it, and walked back a bit. After about 15 minutes I was well and truly knackered. Applying the brakes again and the kite fluttered down to sit nicely on its trailing edge. Now I knew in theory that if you inflated a kite in the middle of the window, flew it straight to the zenith and jumped something big/scary was gonna happen, however finding it out in practice is slightly different! I was ripped from the ground with a manic cackle and dumped unceremoniously on my ass and once again dragged towards those pesky trees!. Once I'd recovered and got to my feet I realised just what a beast this kite is and the power it's got. I also looked at it properly for the first time. It looks good with the blue ribs showing through the white, looking almost like an eagle. The kite itself is good quality, the leading edge isn't covered in mesh like the flexifoils but I find that this just makes it easier to empty sand and other crap out of the cells. The only fault I can find with the kite is the handles. After a while of gripping them you almost need a wrench to pry your fingers open again! I've now had the Beamer about a month and still can't fault it. The handles aren't brilliant but a pair of weightlifting gloves have sorted this problem out. Using the Beamer with a land board works a treat as it's stable in the window and doesn't luft. Although I've found that if its taken too near the edge of the window, one side folds over the bridle of the power lines which is a real pain to rectify, but this is more down to my skill level and the simple answer is not to take the kite out of the window! This kite has had a lot of use already and taken a real beating from myself and various friends that have slammed it into the sand at almost every angle and speed imaginable and doesn't show any signs of damage or even any ware and tear. But then again it has only been a month. I would definatly recoment this kite to other beginers, it's easy to set up and use and forgiving if you screw up, which is particularly important for beginners like myself. It can take a pounding and still be ready for more in an instant. Other than a super ten, the only kite I can compare the beamer to is a friends 3.5 Bullet. The only noticable difference is the mesh covering on the openings, and the handles which are a lot nicer, however not enough to make up for the price difference. All in all the Beamer is an excellent kite for the money and will provide a lifetime of entertainment in whatever way you see fit. By : Rob19

We've owned this kite for a few months now and felt it was about time I put a review together (and to change my smiley face). The kite oozes quality the moment you take it from the package, rucksack is of good quality too. Ours is the florescent green version, which we still like to this day. Easy to follow instructions are included and the colour coded lines are easy to understand and work with right down to the little tabs on the line eyes to enable the easy removal from the larks head knot when tight from flying. The Flexi killers are some of the nicest we've used, being elasticised they tend to stay out of the way while flying. Setting up the kite is dead easy. The brake lines on mine only came with two-knot positions and we tend to fly on the second knot (closest to the trailing edge) and find this fine for all conditions. Others may wish to add further knots to trim the brake settings differently. The size when you open it up in the house is impressive but it looks more to scale when laid out at the chosen flying site. For our first flight the wind was low only running at 7ish mph and I found the kite would fly but was hard work to keep in the air. We came away a little disappointed having flown smaller kites in similar winds and had much more fun. Was the Blade not going to live upto its expectations? Not on your life! All that is said about these kites is true When the wind rises a little this pussy becomes a fire breathing dragon with all the temperament you would expect from such a beast. We've had some really good flying days with this kite and for scudding you can just go on and on, the only thing stopping you is the thought of the walk back with the kite 'resting' at the edge of the window. It cannot be rested at the zenith its just got too much lift to walk back. We've also had some frightening flying days when the kites started to go up and just dragged me along on my backside until Ive managed to crash it to a stop with Betyboo running after me to stop the kite taking flight again. On another occasion I was lofted uncontrollably into the air towards the sea and a wet end so decided to deploy the killers which worked superbly, dropping me to the ground, for albeit a bumpy landing but safe and sound. We have tried jumping with this kite pendulum style and have managed some air but I guess I need to refine my technique somewhat, most people seem to report flying with Blades, maybe they fly in higher winds? This is not the most flown kite in our collection and I guess some of the reason is its unpredictability is confidence sapping when it all goes wrong. I like to have some control over what my kite is doing but this is a very on/off kite with the power cutting in and out like the flick of a switch. In flat gustless winds things are much more controllable it's in gusty conditions when it gets hairy. I am happy flying in moderate flat winds of upto about 15mph, but I wouldn't risk it above this, well not until I have gained more, much more experience. This is not a beginners kite and I would put it into the high end of intermediate flyers to expert to release its full potential. Were very pleased with our purchase and hope that the love/hate relationship, if that's the right word, will turn to more love as time and experience improves. A great kite with real bite, just don't take your eye of the ball, not even for a second. By : PeatyMcBog

The Beamer II 5m is a great quad line kite for money value, for roughly £160 (and they do come cheaper than that) you get an impressive 412cm wingspan with 16 cells creating surprisingly good lift. So what do you get for this cheap price? - the kite obviously - pre streched bridle lines - quad handles - a set of kite killers - a ground stake with cover - a groovie video SVCD (computer disk) - a manual - and finally a spacious bag to keep this all in What's it good for? The beamer is a forgiving kite in strong winds so good to learn on, but would maybe recommend starting with it's smaller version the 3.6m as the 5m version can be quite nasty in stronger winds. Ideally, I use the kite for boarding, and it copes very well, I've picked up some good speeds with it. I've been told it's not a bad kite for buggying but have had no experience. The kite can also produce enough lift for jumps but not huge ones. Pros and Cons : Pros: Great kite for money value, had mine for about 6 months now and still looks new. Loads of people have complained about the bridle lines but I have to say I've had no problems so far and the kite has been taken out in 25+ mph winds. The whole package is simple and very easy to follow. Comes almost ready to fly, just attach the lines and your off! Cons : The handles are personally not to my comfort and my beamer now has a set of flexifoil handles instead, but they are durable. This maybe isn't a flaw but what is with that zip on the bag! it's a pain to open and shut and doesn't even achieve an aesthetically desirable look. HQ... if you're reading this, bad bad bad idea (slap!). Conclusion : Simple really, It's a great kite and if you're cheap like me and want a big new kite for less, this is by far the best choice. Hope this is usefull would be great to get some feedback. Have fun and stay safe ! By : jammy_salsa

Bought this kite a year ago as a first 4-liner, mainly because it was cheap at 70 quid, but also because it was different. I already had a Symphony 2.2, a pair of Flexis and a couple of deltas so I decided to get a 4 liner. I looked at a few traditional foil types but the prices were a little frightening - then I saw the NPW9. I had seen an NPW5 flying a few months before and was quite impressed and having read that the NPW9 was a vast improvement over the original I bought it. Kite, lines and handles for approx £130 - most quality foils would cost at least double that for an equivalent size. The shop owner warned me to take it out in a light wind at first as it was very different to anything I already had - I didn't listen and went out in a 20mph wind and got tangled up before it was of the ground. My stupid fault for not taking good advice. Anyway, got home, spent a while sorting things out and waited for better conditions. Due to the time of year (early Jan) I had to wait a while for lower winds but eventually there came a good day. Quite bright and about 5mph wind off the sea. Got set up, quick prayer to the big man upstairs just in case and then took off. I was not dissapointed at all. I had expected a slow kite but the NPW9, although not as fast as a foil, is no slug. It turned faster than expected aswell - especially on the brakes. This kite can turn like a revolution, albeit a slow one. The power is incredible even at 5mph my arms were getting a severe stretching and I could really lean back on the turns. The power stayed on right to the edge of the window - unlike a foil - which would probably be an advantage to a buggier or boarder. Another advantage is that it files backwards and is also easy to take off backwards after a crash. The only problem I had was that the nose kept collapsing but this was easily sorted after a quick visit to the NPW5 website (Npw5.com). I fitted limitation lines to the brake line attachment point which are then joined to the main bridle point. I believe this is now standard on the kite when you buy it - it wasn't at the time I bought mine. This sorted the problem straight away, the nose still collapses in really low wind but a quick pull on the brakes usually straightens things out. All in all this is an excellent kite. HQ always produce quality and this is no exception- it is bomb proof. There are several more expensive "big name" foils that I have tried since that don't come anywhere near it for value versus performance. I would highly recommend this kite to anyone, but take my advice : DO NOT go out first time flying in more than 5mph wind, also take a helper if you can.Make sure that your power lines and brake lines are all exactly the same length.Always take time to pack away properly as the bridles can become tangled. It pays to make sure that they are as tangle free as possible - I always unpack again at home and take any twists/tangles out before my next flying session.Enjoy - you will not be dissapointed with an NPW9 By : Gary Robinson

FireBee 4.0 This being my first kite I can't really make comparisons between it and other kites. So this review will be from a newbie's point of view. Packaging : The kite arrived in a very nicely made (if a bit thin) backpack with the front panel being the same colour as the main panel of the kite. On opening the pack I found a very neatly packed and well made kite, also in the bag there was a set of ozone lines and handles that where thrown in by the shop (kitedynamic.co.uk). Set-up : The instruction where a little limited, but did show the basics of setting up and how to tie the knots. It also had very basic flying instructions and a nice wind chart on the last page. I choose a very calm day to set-up as I didn't fancy having to fight the kite on the first day out. Set-up took all of 5 min, I took a step back and there it was my new kite sitting up ready to go. First time out : The wind had picked up a little since starting to set-up (to about 10mph). So after walking back to the handles, picking them up and giving a little tug I was flying. Now this kite requires you to work it to get it to the zenith but you can get it there easy enough with just a few zigzags. In its default configuration it doesn't like to stay there. This kite flies well and the more it moves the better it gets, very soon after getting it airborne I was scudding around the field. The next few times out where in pretty much the same winds and spent many hours learning how to fly. One of these days the wind was nearly nonexistent and a help full guy came up and gave me some tips on tuning the kite and soon I was one of the few people to get there kite up that day at woolacombe. Fifth Day out : This day was a lack of judgment on my part, I had waited all day at work wanting to go out and fly the wind had been prefect all day and it had been driving me mad. I finally got down to the beach and had it set up and the wind picked up big style (25mph with 35+ gusts) thought I'd try it any way, this was a big mistake in my newness to it all I pulled the kite up straight through the centre of the window very fast. This sent me flying through the air about 10+ foot up and well over 30 meters along the beach right into the sea wall. Had to call it a day and packed up very shakily. Power rings : I thought I'd give these ago as I've read all the hype that claim these improve how the kite flies. So I pop down to the local DIY store and get hold of 1m of line and a couple of curtain rings. Now the kite holds a much better shape on the ground and now happily goes to the zenith with much less work and will stay there till its needed, it has made the power stronger and cleaner and has also enlarged the flying window. The shape of the kite while in the air is much nicer and it seems to luff less often. Conclusions : This is a great budget kite and instead of just sitting there like most of the kites that are classed as learner kites this one forces you to learn how to fly. It's well made and looks great. It is reasonably powerful as it can drag my 20st around and even provide some great jumps. Most of the luffing and wingtip collapse seems to be cured by adding powerrings. Power / Pound : 10/10 Appearance: 7/10 Build quality 8/10 By : BlackDragon

I recieved a Firebee 3m for my 14th birthday in July last year. After days of waiting for some wind I could not hold on for much longer and therefore had a go with the kite in very light winds (around 5- 8mph) Even in these light winds I was dragged around and I thought for my first 4 liner, it was a perfect kite. I would recommend this kite to anyone due to it's varied wind range, it's capability and best of all, it's price. The Firebee's are unbelievable value for money as they have a similar technique to the Blade, but come out at about 100-200 pounds cheaper. Since buying my Firebee we have recently purchased another 1m for my smaller brother, and I hope to get a 6.5m for my 15th birthday in July. An all round buggy, mountainboard, traction kite. 10/10 !!! I also have a Peter Lynn Fold UP 2003 model which has been an unbelievable amount of fun. It's practicality is great and it is so light and easy to use. If I had to sum the buggy up in one word it would be 'Easy'. It is as practical as practical gets and can easily fit into a car boot. Accessories can be added, but even without them this buggy gets 10/10!!! By : Stewart

Packaging The packaging has recently changed to a rucksack with a pocket on the for for bits and pieces, far better than the older drawstring bag. Set-Up Since Firebees (Bees) are Kite Only, you will need to buy some lines and handles before you can set them up. In my opinion, these are not the easiest of kites to set up with the brake and power lines needing to be different lengths for optimum performance. For some reason there is also thick black cord attached to one set of bridles making for extra drag and is best removed. Flight Characteristics Until you get up to the larger sizes, all the Bee's are quite unstable and refuse to sit at the top of the window. This can be remedied by using 'Power Rings' which atttach the break and power lines and have the added benefit of increasing the power developed by the kite. Even with the rings attached, the kites do not like gusty conditions and luff at every opportunity. This is a particular problem with the smaller kites as they have a habit of 'Bow-Tieing' which requires the kite to be brought down and physically sorting out before flying can be resumed. If you plan to buy an RTF package, make sure you get longer lines (30-40M) if most of your flying is inland. The smaller Bees also have a relatively small window and are quite easy to overfly which usually ends with them luffing. For buggying use these kites need to be really worked to get the most out of them in all but the highest of winds. This is however worth the effort practicing as you can develop comparable speeds to others with similar sized kites. Due to the poor window upwind performance with the smaller kites is poor. Conclusions Despite their faults, Bees are a great way to gain a reasonable range of kites relatively inexpensively and I would give them 10/10 for value for money. Overall, because of their faults I would only say a generous 7/10. By : Mark Eggett